[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 141 (Friday, August 7, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E737-E738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MICHELLE GARCILAZO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 7, 2020

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Michelle 
Carmen Garcilazo for five years of exemplary service as an field 
representative for California's 2nd Congressional District. As a valued 
member of my staff, Michelle has been essential to my work in the 
congressional district, and of special note, has helped thousands of my 
constituents with complicated issues.
  Michelle grew up in Sacramento, California. She earned a BA in 
Spanish with a minor in Chicano Latino Studies from Sonoma State 
University. She later obtained a Master's Degree in Public 
Administration and a Certificate in Non Profits, also from Sonoma State 
University. Michelle proceeded to work in the non-profit sector first 
as a family advocate in Bay Area public schools, then with the San 
Francisco-Marin Food Bank as a Senior Program Coordinator. In 2015 
Michelle joined my staff as a Marin County field representative and 
constituent caseworker. She excelled in this role, steadily developing 
her skill set. In 2017 her responsibilities expanded to include 
immigration casework services for the entire congressional district, 
with a population of more

[[Page E738]]

than 720,000. In this capacity Michelle has been able to leverage her 
college degrees and bilingual skills to help resolve complex problems 
for many individuals in need.
  Michelle is deeply principled, a hard worker, and an excellent team 
player. She consistently took on challenges to serve others using her 
intelligence, diplomacy, and empathy. Recently, Michelle served as the 
only staffer supporting a congressional fact-finding visit, when I 
traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border along with my colleague Congressman 
Colin Allred. Michelle's language skills, subject matter knowledge, and 
ability to build trust allowed us to communicate with individuals 
seeking asylum in the United States. This firsthand experience provided 
us with valuable insights on how the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-
Mexico border is impacting national security, and how the complexities 
and ambiguities of immigration law, as well as changes in the law's 
application, can affect families on both sides of the border. She has 
worked on high-profile cases for my constituents, including complicated 
immigration work for the Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and 
his family following his imprisonment in Iran.
  Over the years; Michelle has developed a keen understanding of how 
her casework informs my legislative agenda. She has worked with all 
levels of government, non-profits, community groups, and businesses to 
help address key local problems. She has become an integral member of 
my district staff, and she will be sorely missed as she leaves us to 
pursue law school. Madam Speaker, I hope you will join me and my staff 
in extending to Michelle our deep appreciation for her many good deeds 
and wishing her the best in all her future endeavors.

                          ____________________